Catalogue

On The Way To Prague

ID: br0027

£9.99

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This CD features the piano concertos of Mozart and his contemporary Leopold Kozeluch, whose concerto Felicja Blumental performed with her own cadenza. Since composing this concerto, many of Kozeluch’s achievements have been overshadowed by Beethoven.

Jan Antonin Kozeluch was born in Velvary, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) on 26th June 1747 but adopted the name “Leopold” to distinguish himself from his cousin, the Kapellmeister in Prague. Kozeluch studied law while
studying music privately with his cousin and with Frantisek Dusek (1731 –
1799). From 1771, Kozeluch began composing music for ballet and even pantomimes, which were particularly successful. He moved to Vienna to further his career as a pianist, teacher and composer (both sacred and secular). In 1792, at the peak of his career, Kozeluch accepted the appointment of Imperial Chamber Conductor
and Court Composer. While fulfilling his duties to the Court, Kozeluch experimented with genre and form, even arranging Welsh, Irish and Scottish folk songs.

Kozeluch was highly regarded for his role in the development and promotion of the piano. Since his death in Vienna on 7th May 1818, this achievement has been overshadowed
by those of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791) was an unrivalled child prodigy who was devoted entirely to music from the age of 4. He was the only surviving
son of his proud and demanding father who took his son (and daughter) on tour around Europe so that the 6 year-old Mozart could dazzle audiences. By the age
of 20, Mozart had composed numerous operas, violin and piano concerts, at least 30 symphonies and many solo works. Although he had already established a high
profile in Europe during his youth, Mozart found real creative freedom and true celebrity status in Vienna.

In his last year, Mozart – the great composer of the classical era, earned the equivalent of 80,000 U.S. dollars, including his fee for his Requiem, which
lay unfinished at his death.

Mozart and Kozeluch first met through Princess Elisabeth of Wurttenberg, who had invited Mozart to instruct her. She later became a pupil of Kozeluch. Marie
Therese von Paradis was also a pupil of Kozeluch, who commissioned Mozart to write a piano concerto for her tour to Paris. The result was the Piano Concerto
No. 18 in B flat, K456 – something that may have sparked a rivalry between the two composers.

It is rumoured that they had become friends at a coronation ceremony in Prague, but Mozart claimed that Kozeluch continually followed him around Prague with
petty jealousy and later, requested his contemporary’s name not to be mentioned in his biography.

Beethoven described Kozeluch as “miserablis” and Haydn didn’t much care for Kozeluch having heard the composer crtiticising some of his work.
One particular incident of note happened at a performance of a new quartet by Haydn. It is said that Kozeluch turned to Mozart to denigrate various aspects
of the Haydn composition and exclaimed “he (Kozeluch) would never had done it that way”. Mozart responded “nor should I, but do you know
why? Because neither your nor I would have had so good an idea.”

Nevertheless, the popularity of both composers is evident. Kozeluch received an invitation to succeed Mozart as Court Organist in Salzburg, a position that
he turned down with the remark ”What deters me most is the Mozart affair. If the archbishop should let such a man go, would he not do worse to me?”

Not only did their paths cross through performing and composing, but they also met through publishing circles. Kozeluch established his own publishing firm
called Musikalisches Magazin in 1784 and made several of Mozart’s works available. He was able to cash in on the popularity of Mozart’s opera,
Die Zauberflote while at the same time, offering his own compositions for sale.

Leopold Kozeluch - Piano Concerto in D major

Kozeluch’s piano concertos and symphonies are typical of the Viennese Classical style, although his later piano and chamber works hint at
Romantic lyricism. This Concerto in D major was composed for his pupil, Marie Therese von Paradis (1759 – 1824), who was a successful pianist of the
time and was blind from birth. It is composed in three movements and Kozeluch employs arpeggios and trills to decorate the piano part, which suggests that
it may have been written for either harpsichord or the piano. Kozeluch particularly favoured the latter, spending much of his career promoting the piano over the
harpsichord.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major K. 467

Mozart composed this concerto in less than a month. Dated 1785,it is notoriously one of the most demanding concertos ever written, yet hailed by
musicologists as the “definitive” piano concerto from the Classical era.

Mozart had a continuous desire to explore all the sonorities of the piano, particularly the dynamic range and sustenance of the instrument as it was being
developed. The beautiful and pure lyricism of the popular second movement Andante illustrates Mozart’s profound gift at writing for his favourite instrument.
It was this movement that became known as the “Elvira Madigan” when it featured in the Swedish Film of the same title by Bo Widerberg, dated 1967.
The film was accepted widely and tells of a Swedish officer who is married with two children, but decides to abandon his family and run away to join the circus.

The Spirit of Poland

ID: BR0030

Pianist Felicja Blumental explores the vibrant repertoire of Karol Szymanowski (who taught the young Blumental composition) and fellow Pole Fryderyk Chopin, whose music was a fundamental part of Felicja Blumental's recording career which brought her great...

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Brana Records Collection Vol. 1

ID: BR0029

The repertoire on this special limited edition 5 CD box set is a reminder of Felicja Blumental's abilities as a pianist and as a champion of the lesser known piano works from the late 18th/early 19th century and features the best selling Brana titles.

...

£29.99

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Polish Fantasy: Penderecki & Paderewski

ID: br0028

The repertoire here is a reminder of Felicja Blumental’s protean abilities. Here, she resurrects a piano concerto/patriotic fantasy by Paderewski before assuming the central role on harpsichord for Penderecki's Partita, dedicated to her by the composer.
...

£9.99

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On The Way To Prague

ID: br0027

This CD features the piano concertos of Mozart and his contemporary Leopold Kozeluch, whose concerto Felicja Blumental performed with her own cadenza. Since composing this concerto, many of Kozeluch’s achievements have been overshadowed by Beethoven.